Taping machine



C. A. OLSEN TAPING MACHINE Oct 5, 193 7.

Filed Sept. 19, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l C. A. OLSEN TAPING MACHINE Oct 5, 1937.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 19, 1935 v mafia Oct. 5, 1937. c. A. OLSEN 4,

TAPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 19, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 g .2 & M WW z \\a\ 0 0 W A wwl \N Z w E same.

Patented Oct, 5, 193? 2,094,666 rarin MACHINE (Dari A. Olsen, Lynn, Mass, assignor to Excel Taping Machine 00., Lynn, Mass, a corporaticn of Massachusetts Application September 19, 1935, Serial No. 41,286

'7 Claims. (Cl. 154-42) r re n --This invention relates to an improved type of taping machine, particularly to such a machine for applying adhesively coated tape to shoe uppers and especially the heel seam portions of the In some respects the present invention provides improvements upon and further adapta ticns of the principles of the machines disclosed in United States Patent No. 1,787,138 of Leland K. Butler and in my United States Patent No.

The present invention particularly provides an arrangement of presser parts in the form of rolls and associated rings'which are unusually effective in pressing tape upon the seamed portion of a sheet article, and particularly the heel seam of a shoe upper. Such heel seams are commonly provided by stitching together the curved margins of two pieces of sheet material such as fabric or leather, the curvature of the resulting seam corresponding to the curvature which is to be provided upon the rear part of the shoe upper. Seams of this character are reinforced by applying adhesive tape over the seam portion of the article, including the marginal portions of the sheet elements adjoining the seam which are flattened down to afford a central ridge, while the margins of the tape are pressed upon the inner surface of the sheets at either side of this ridge. Thus it is highly desirable to assure the firm pressing of the'tape upon surfaces in different planes. Occasionally, particularly when leather is employed, the sheet elements which are thus stitched together may differ in firmness of fibrous structure and/or in thickness so that it is difficult to press the tape uniformly against the sheet elements upon opposite sides of the ridge.

The present invention affords an arrangement particularly effective in pressing the tape firmly, not only against the ridge of such an article, but against the surfaces of the sheet elements at each side of such a ridge despite variations in the thickness or character of the material of these elements. To this end an upper presser member, preferably in the form of a roll, may be provided with a transversely concave periphery to cooperate with a flange upon a lower presser member, also preferably in the form of a roll. This peripheral flange preferably is arranged in juxtaposition to the central portion of the upper roll so that it may eifectively cooperate therewith in pressing the tape upon the ridge of the seamed article. At each side of this flange, I preferably arrange rings which are movable independently of the roll. Thus there is no direct driving connection between the flanged roll and the rings and their axes of rotation normally may be eccentric in relation to the axis of the flanged roll. A pair of blocks may be slidable in a fixed part of the machine and urged by springs toward the cooperating rings, thus being effective in yieldably pressing the rings toward the concave roll. Preferably sets of balls are arranged between the blocks and the rings, the periphery of the associated roll being provided with openings so that it is effective as a cage to support the balls. Thus an arrangement is provided whereby the central flange may press the seamed portion of the sheet article against the concave face of the cooperating roll, while the rings at either side of this flange are pressed yieldably toward portions of the surface of the concave faced roll at either side of the flange so that the tape is firmly pressed in place despite, variations in thickness and yieldability of the sheet elements.

The rings themselves are not directly driven but are rotatable due to their frictional engagement with the tape passing between the rolls which is being driven due to the positive rotation of the upper and lower rolls. Thus, for example, in practice the rotary speed of the rings may vary slightly from that of theflanged roll with which they are associated. Obviously the position of the centers of the rings varies in accordance with the relative thickness of the ridge portion of the sheet article and of the body portions of the respective sheet elements.

An important advantage of this construction results from the arrangement of the parts so that the surface of the sheet material which is to afford the outer surface of the rear part of the shoe is engaged by the smooth continuous surface of one roller, while the flange of the opposite roller and the associated rings engage the tape upon the inner surface of the sheet article. Thus the corners of the flange are prevented from marking 4 or damaging the appearance of the finished surface of the sheet elements.

A machine of this type may also be employed for ordinary flat taping. Under these conditions the rings are automatically pressed into positions 1 plied, such guide means being associated with the presser members and the cooperating cutter mechanism to facilitate the rapid application of the tape to successive sheet articles without waste of tape and particularly to permit such operations to be performed upon sheet articles which are to form the heel portions of shoe uppers. Thus guiding means is provided to engage the sheet article as it is initially fed to the machine and to cause the seam portion thereof to be progressively turned as it passes to the bite of the rolls so that the reinforced article is automatically provided with the general shape of the rear portion of a shoe upper. A further aspect of the invention relates to an improved tape supplying means arranged to aid the supplying of the tape, for example from a spool to the guiding means of the machine, without danger of twisting, catching or the like.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a face view of a machine constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of such a machine with parts broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a part of the tape guiding means;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an elevational detail of the bite portion of the rolls and the cooperating parts showing the manner in which a seamed sheet article may be pressed therebetween, parts being broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 6 is an elevational detail of the tape supplying means;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section indicated by line 7-4 of Fig. 2, parts being shown in elevation;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the lower roll and associated parts, the section being taken on a plane at right angles to that of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the lower roller with the cooperating gear indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of the same; and

Fig. 11 is an enlarged section of a portion of the assembly shown in Fig. 7.

In general a machine of the type disclosed herein may have a frame and driving mechanism arranged in the general manner disclosed in the above-identified patents, to which reference may be made in regard to the general details of such a construction. Such a frame is designated in general by numeral I and is provided with a movable head or frame 3|, the end portion of which is yieldably urged downwardly by a spring l23 adjustable by a hand wheel I25 in the general manner disclosed in the above-identified patents. A control and driving wheel 38 is provided with a pulley portion and has suitable driving connections with an upper presser member or roll l4 and with a lower roll l5. A suitable cutter mechanism is also arranged in the general manner disclosed in the above-identified patents. The parts so far described are only generally illustrated herein, since the details thereof are clearly disclosed in the above-identified patents.

In accordance with this invention, the upper presser roll l4 may be provided with a transversely concave face, as shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 7, and the lower roll I 5, which is more particularly illustrated in Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10, may be provided with a central flange 20, which may be knurled to aid its frictional engagement with the tape. This flange preferably has a width of the order of the average width of the aoeacc ridge portions of sheet articles which are to b taped by a machine of this character. The roll I 5 is provided with a disk-like end portion 22 that is rotatably mounted upon the spindle 24, while the rim of the roll extends from its disklike portion and is provided with sets of drilled openings 2| at each side of the flange 20.

Disposed within the openings 2! are balls 25 which may engage the inner surfaces of metal rings 26 that are disposed at each side of the These rings have transversely convex outer surfaces to conform to the transverse curvature of the periphery of roll I4. A generally circular plate 2'! is secured by a screw 28 to the spindle 26 and is held against rotation by a part of the cutter mechanism, while a retainer plate 23 is mounted upon the opposite side of the roll l5. It is thus evident that the roll [5 with its flange 2!} and the plates 2'! and 29 cooperate in defining grooves in which the rings 26 are mounted, these rings being rotatable on the balls 25. The balls loosely engage a fixed part of the machine which is secured to the frame of the machine by screws 3!. The part 30 (Fig. 8) has a generally annular form and is cut away to accommodate the pinion 33 of the driving mechanism and to provide an arcuate recess 34 which receives a slidably mounted pair of blocks 35. These blocks 35 are arranged side by side in the recess 33 and have flat vertically disposed end surfaces slidably engaging similar surfaces at the ends of the arcuate recess 34. Coil compression springs have their ends received in cylindrical sockets in the bottom of the recess 38 and in the adjoining portions of the blocks 35 so that the blocks are yieldably urged upwardly. A screw 4! engages each block and extends through an opening in the annular member 30, thus limiting the upward movement of the corresponding block.

It is evident that the balls 25 engage the arouate surface of the corresponding block 35 and are effective in supporting the corresponding ring 26 and pressing the latter upwardly. against or toward the concave surface of roll I4. Thus the rings are yieldably urged toward the upper roll, while the rolls are urged toward each other due to the arrangement of the head 3| and the heavy spring E23 which urges the end of the head downwardly.

While the member 33 has been described as possessing a generally circular or annular form, more accurately its lower half may be provided with a curvature corresponding to that of the inner surface of a ring 26, while its upper half and the blocks 35 may have surfaces substantially concentric with the rings when the same are pressed downwardly the maximum amount so that the corresponding blocks 35 engage or are closely juxtaposed to the bottom of the recess 38. This position of the parts is illustrated in Fig, 7, the roll it pressing downwardly upon the flange 2i] and upon the rings 23 at either side thereof so that the lower roll and the rings afford a substantially continuous surface having a curvature complementary to that of the periphery of roll it. The parts will occupy this position when the machine is employed for flat taping, the balls 25 above the blocks 35 supporting the rings 26 against the downward pressure of the roll [4 while the balls 25 adjoining the lower part of the member 30 may ride loosely within the rings and in spaced relation to the lower surface of part 30.

When a seamed article is disposed between the rollers as shown in Fig. 11, the springs 40 press the rings 26 upwardly in relation tot-he roll l5 so that the rings may be more nearly in concentric relation with the roll, the balls moving upwardly over the blocks 35 and also being juxtaposed to or possibly lightly engaging the lower part of member 30 under these conditions. It is thus evident that the position of the rings 30 may vary in relation to the roll '15 and that the arrangement of the balls"25 permits portions of the rings which are subjected to pressure to be supported by the blocks -and the cooperating springs 40.

.As shown in Fig. 11, the flange '20 of the lower roll l5 firmly "engages the seam ridge of the sheet article, cooperating 'withthe central portion of the concave surface of the upper roll in flattening this ridge and firmly pressing the central portion ofthe tape thereon. At each side of this flange the "rings 26 are being yieldably urged upwardly by the springs '50 so that they are effective in pressing the tape against the body portion of the sheet elements at each side of the seam ridge. Thus the lower presser member in effect com prises three parts, namely, the flange 20 and the two rings 26,'which are independently movable and are automatically effective in pressing the tape against the sheet article and the latter against the upper roll despite variations in thickness of different portions of the latter. Accordingly a machine of this character is particularly effective in firmlypressing tape against the seamed portion of a sheet article despite variations in the amount of material and the thickness of the same in theiseam ridge and any variations of the sheet material at each side of the ridge.

A machine of this character may be provided with a cutter or 'tape severing element 96 of the general type disclosed in the above-identified patents, which is .adapted to sever successive tape sections as the margin of a sheet article approaches the bite of the rolls. A tape guide support 10 may be associated with thiscutter in the general manner described in the above-identified patents and may carry a guide, indicated in general by numeral 5|], having a slot 5| through which the tape may extend and having an outstanding block portion '52 with a groove 53 to receive the seam portion of the sheet article being fed to the rolls.

'As shown in Fig. '5, when the parts are in normal position the sheet article received by the groove53 also tends tobe centered by an upper curvedguide '60 formed of round wire and adjustably mounted 'upon a bracket 6| secured to the head 3| of the machine. The end of the guide 60 hasiapointed-portion adjoining the bite of the rolls. 'It is thus evident that the groove 53 cooperates with the wire guide 6|] in accurately centering the seam portion of the article in relation to the rolls. The end portion of the guide 5|] is provided with a slot 51 upon its inner edge to accommodate the seam portion of the sheet article. As the sheet article passes to the bite of the rolls, its original curvature is reversed due to the curvature of the upper roll; and of the surfaces of rings 26 as well as the slightly different peripheral speeds thereof. The upper roll which engages the sheet material preferably may have a slightly higher peripheral speed than the lower roll.

Tape may be supplied to the guidemeans in the general manner disclosed in my Patent No. 1,801,972, an inverted trough-like guide element 2| being provided with a layer of material such as felt having a high coefficient of friction toengage the tape and being arranged to direct the tape from a spool [2 to the lower peripheral portion of the roll 15. In accordance with this invention, however, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the outer end of the inverted guide channel 2! is provided with depending generally semi-circular wire sections l-5 whichengage the tape as it is received at the end of the element 2 I, thus facilitating the proper movement of the tape into the channel despite thefact that the source of the tape may be offset laterally in relation to the longitudinal direction of extent of the channel or the central plane of the roll l5. Thus an arrangement is provided permitting the tape to be supplied to the machine withcut danger of twisting or catching, even if the tape is being received from a relatively wide spool so that the run extending from the spool to the inverted channel 2! may extend at a considerable angle to the latter. I

In the operationof a machine of this type, a sheet article S comprising" two sheets of material stitched together along their curved mar gins may be disposed so that the body portions of the sheet adjoining the seam lie at opposite sides of the wire guide Giland so that the marginal portions of the sheet projecting from the seam are received in the groove 53. The rotating rolls l4 and I5 draw the severed end of the tape which projects from the guide 55 and the advanced edge of the sheet article between the bite of the rolls. Under these conditions the various portions of the tape are firmly pressed against the seam portion of the sheet article in the manner which has been described. As the sheet article passes between the rolls its curvature is reversed so that accordingly as the tape is pressed in place the sheet article tends to receive the general shape of the rear part of a shoe upper, being held in this curved form by the reinforcing tape.

As the last part of the seam portion of the article approaches the bite of the rolls, the operator actuates the control mechanism to project the cutter 99 to the position shown in Fig. 2, while the guide 58 is retracted from the bite of the rolls. Thus "the portion of tape being applied to the article may be severed from the main body of tape, permitting the cut tape section to have a length substantially equal to the length of the seam portion of the article. After the tape has been cut in this manner, the guide 50 is returned to its normal position and the successive sheet article is fed to the machine to be engaged by the severed end of the remaining tape.

It is thus evident that a machine of this character may be employed rapidly to tape successive seamed articlessuch as the heel seam portions of shoe uppers, and that the tape may be effectively pressed upon these articles despite variations in thickness of the different portions thereof. This arrangement permits the surfaces of the sheet article which are to be disposed upon the outside of the shoe to be protected from injury or marking since these surfaces only engage the wire guide Bil and the smooth-surfaced roll l4. Obviously a machine of this character may also be employed for flat taping, the parts automatically being adjusted to proper position as shown in Fig. 7 when ordinary flat taping is to be effected.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Taping machine comprising a frame, a presser member and a cooperating roll, said roll having a peripheral surface juxtaposed to said member, a pair of rings disposed respectively on opposite sides of said surface, a pair of metal elements disposed within said rings and guided formovements toward said presser member, resilient means yieldably urgingsaid elements toward said member and causing the rings yieldably to approach said member.

2. Taping machine comprising a frame, a presser member and a cooperating roll, said roll having a peripheral surface juxtaposed to said member, a pair of rings dispose-d respectively at opposite sides of said surface, a pair of blocks disposed respectively Within the rings and slidable in relation to the frame, springs yieldably urging the blocks toward the presser member and causing the rings yieldably to approach said member.

3. Taping machine comprising a frame, a pair of rolls, means associated with the frame yieldably urging the peripheries of the rolls toward each other, one of said rolls providing a central flange, rings disposed at each side of said flange, balls mounted in sets of peripheral openings in the roll beneath the rings, a pair of blocks slidably mounted on the frame, springs pressing the blocks against the balls and the latter against the rings, whereby a seamed article may be passed between the rolls with said flange pressing tape on the ridge provided by the seam and the rings pressing the tape upon material at opposite sides of the seam.

4. Taping machine comprising a frame, a pair of rolls rotatably mounted on the frame, means associated with the frame yieldably urging the peripheries of the rolls toward each other, one of said rolls having a peripheral portion juxtaposed to the central portion of the peripheral surface of the other roll, a pair of rings disposed respectively upon opposite sides of said peripheral portion, a generally annular part carried by said frame and disposed within respective rings, a pair of blocks disposed within the respective rings and slidable in said part, springs yieldably urging the blocks outwardly toward said rings, said rings being urged toward the periphery of the opposite roll at each side of its central portion, whereby a seamed article may be passed between the rolls with said peripheral portion pressing tape on the ridge provided by the seam and said rings pressing the tape upon material at opposite sides of the seam.

5. Taping machine comprising a frame, a pair of rolls rotatably mounted on the frame, means associated with the frame yieldably urging the peripheries of the rolls toward each other, one of said rolls having a peripheral portion juxtaposed to the central portion of the peripheral surface of the other rolls, a pair of rings disposed respectively upon opposite sides of said peripheral portion, a part carried by said frame and disposed within the respective rings, a pair of blocks disposed within the respective rings and slidable in said part, springs yieldably urging the blocks outwardly toward said rings, cage means disposed between the blocks and rings and receiving balls engageable with the blocks and corresponding rings, said rings engaging the periphery of the opposite roll at each side of its central portion, whereby a seamed article may be passed between the rolls with said peripheral portion pressing tape on the ridge provided by the seam and said rings pressing the tape upon material at opposite sides of the seam.

6. Taping machine comprising a frame, a pair of rolls rotatably mounted on the frame, means associated with the frame yieldingly urging the peripheries of the roll toward each other, one of said rolls being hollow and providing a central flange upon its periphery, openings in the periphery of the last-named roll at each side of the central flange, sets of balls disposed in said openings, a pair of rings disposed respectively at opposite sides of the central flange, a fixed part secured to said frame and having a generally arcuate surface engageable with said balls, a block slidably mounted in said part within each of said rings, and springs yieldably pressing each block against the corresponding balls and pressing the latter upwardly against the rings, so that each of the rings is yieldably urged against the opposite roller at either side of the portion thereof which is engaged by said peripheral flange.

7. Taping machine comprising a frame, a roll having a transversely concave surface, a cooperating roll having a peripheral surface juxtaposed to the intermediate portion of the transversely concave surface, means associated with the frame yieldably urging the first-named roll toward the second-named roll, rings disposed at each side of said peripheral surface, parts slidably mounted on the frame, springs associated with the parts and causing the latter to be effective in pressing the rings toward the first-named roll, said rings having surfaces shaped to be complementary to the surface of the first-named roll whereby a seamed article must pass between the rolls with said peripheral surface pressing tape on the ridge provided by the seam and the rings pressing the tape upon material at opposite sides of the seam while the rolls and rings are effective in imposing a generally curved shape upon the article.

CARL A. OLSEN. 

